Proactive Medical Support Policy
Proactive Medical Support Policy
Wake Forest is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its students. The University encourages and expects students who are concerned about their own health or that of another student due to alcohol and/or drug use to seek medical assistance. The University recognizes that the potential for a conduct action by the Office of the Dean of Students may deter students from seeking medical assistance, and this Proactive Medical Support Policy is intended to eliminate that barrier.
This Proactive Medical Support Policy applies to:
- Students who proactively seek medical support for themselves due to use of alcohol and/or other drugs,
- Students who proactively seek medical support for another person due to that person’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs, and
- Student organizations seeking medical assistance for their members or guests due to the member(s)’ or guest(s)’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs
Individual: Students will be eligible for Proactive Medical Support when it is determined they proactively sought medical assistance for themselves or if others sought medical assistance for them in a proactive manner related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The term “proactive manner” means a student would seek out the assistance of law enforcement or medical personnel (examples include a Winston-Salem or University Police Officer or a member of the Wake Forest University Emergency Medical Services staff) or residence hall staff member (examples include a Graduate Hall Director or Resident Adviser) trained student staff (examples include an Event Resource Manager or Deacon Patrol member), or using a specific university resource (such as Deacon Health Service or calling 911). A student who is seeking Proactive Medical Support for themselves will be required to comply with recommendations of the Office of the Dean of Students. Recommendations may consist of, but not be limited to, the following:
- Educationally-focused outcomes:
- Referral to an Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor for an alcohol or other drug assessment
- Educational opportunities to assist in avoiding future high-risk situations
- Online or in-person educational programs, such as AlcoholEDU, BASICS, or similar
- Prevention-based outcomes:
- A period of warning or probation
- Restorative and community-focused outcomes:
- Apology letter
- Residence Hall programming and/or educational efforts
If the student satisfactorily completes the process through the Office of the Dean of Students, allegations, findings, and outcomes will not be reported externally to graduate or professional schools or on background checks. In addition, Proactive Medical Support will not be granted to students needing medical assistance who refuse to cooperate with medical providers, law enforcement, or University personnel at the time medical assistance is sought.
Students who seek medical assistance for another person experiencing an alcohol or other drug related emergency may also be granted Proactive Medical Support, in support of their help-seeking behaviors. Outcomes may include the same outcomes noted above.
Organizational: Student organizations may be eligible for Proactive Medical Support when it is determined that they sought medical assistance for members and guests in a proactive manner related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The term “proactive manner” means that the student organization would seek out the assistance of law enforcement or medical personnel (examples include a Winston-Salem or University Police Officer or a member of the Wake Forest University Emergency Medical Services staff) or residence hall staff member (examples include a Graduate Hall Director or Resident Advisor) trained student staff (examples include an Event Resource Manager or Deacon Patrol member), or using a specific university resource (such as Student Health Service or calling 911). A student organization seeking Proactive Medical Support will be required to comply with recommendations of the Office of the Dean of Students in order to be granted the amnesty. Failure to seek medical assistance may result in disciplinary action against the student organization and/or its members. The student organization seeking medical attention for another person will not receive charges related to alcohol and other drugs by the Dean of Students or his/her designee, provided the student organization and/or its members complete any educational recommendations assigned by the Office of the Dean of Students. The Office of The Dean of Students reserves the right to notify the Inter/national headquarters of recognized student organizations, even when amnesty is given. Failure to comply with the recommendation(s) may result in alcohol and/or drug violations under the Code of Conduct.
Individual students or organizations that actively seek immediate medical assistance for another person may still receive Proactive Medical Support regardless of the compliance of the individual for whom medical assistance was sought.
If a student and/or a student organization received Proactive Medical Support for a prior incident or has prior alcohol or other drug conduct cases, the availability of amnesty is at the discretion of the Office of the Dean of Students. Proactive Medical Support applies only to alcohol and other drug violations under the SCC and does not eliminate the possibility that other allegations may be made to address other prohibited conduct such as but not limited to, assault, property damage, or distribution of illegal or illicit substances.
This policy applies only to those students or student organizations seeking medical assistance due to alcohol or other drug use and does not apply when the individual in need of medical assistance is found by University employees, including Resident Advisers.
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Remember, if someone is potentially in danger it is critical that you don’t wait. DON’T WAIT, SAVE A LIFE, MAKE THE CALL.